2025 UIL 3A Boys 800m
The 3A Boys 800m final was one of the most anticipated races of the day at the 2025 UIL State Championships, and it lived up to every bit of the hype. Noah Strohman (Holliday), the defending state champion and reigning 3200m winner from earlier that morning, delivered a masterclass in tactical racing and endurance. With a 1:53.54 victory in 2024 and a near-identical 1:53.74 to win his region, Strohman entered with both the pedigree and momentum. Even with a 3200m already on his legs, he proved unstoppable.
The race didn't start cleanly, as the field was called back after a misfire on the initial gun. On the second attempt, Ethan Johnston (Pottsboro), who entered with a blazing 1:51 seed time, was aggressive early and claimed the rail by the cut-in, setting a controlled pace through a 57.23 first lap. Strohman, running patiently just behind him, made his move on the backstretch of the second lap. As they approached 600 meters at around 1:27, Hayden Long (Ponder) also joined the front group, setting the stage for a thrilling final sprint.
But in the closing stretch, Strohman's strength and poise prevailed. He closed with an impressive 56.26 second lap, negative splitting the race to clock 1:53.78 and secure his second gold medal of the day, as well as a successful title defense. Johnston held strong for second, finishing in 1:54.69, while Long crossed in third with a personal best 1:55.17, capping off a tightly contested podium.
Just behind the lead trio, Brandt Kovar (Huntington) moved up well in the final 200 meters to place fourth in 1:57.31, with Iowa Park's Colin Dowell rounding out the top five in 1:57.55. It was a race defined by experience, tactical awareness, and grit-and in all those departments, Noah Strohman was once again the standard.
